Anti-EU poll results will help David Cameron to renegotiate Britain’s place in Europe, says John Major

File photo dated 17/11/11 of former prime minister Sir John Major who has said the surge of support for anti-Europe parties in the EU election will make it "much easier" for David Cameron to renegotiate Britain's position in the alliance. PRESS ASSOCIATIO

Former prime minister Sir John Major has said the surge of support for anti-Europe parties will make it “much easier” for David Cameron to renegotiate Britain’s position in the alliance.

The ex-Huntingdon MP told the BBC: “The results of these elections right across Europe have made a renegotiation much easier.

“It is apparent now to governments right across Europe that reform of the EU is necessary, it isn’t working as it should, it isn’t working in the way which European citizens think it should.

“I think that gives a great deal of power to the British determination to renegotiate because they will have allies today which, in the 1990s, we frankly didn’t have.”

Sir John also insisted an EU referendum was necessary as a “reaffirmation” of the UK’s membership and to “relieve bitterness” around the issue.

He said: “There are many people in this country who weren’t born when we had our last referendum when we entered the EU.

“Plainly the union has changed and changed dramatically from the old common market and trading bloc. I think there is a great deal of resentment among people who say it has changed into something I didn’t think we were joining a long time ago.

“So I think it is necessary to have a reaffirmation of our membership in order to relieve this bitterness there has been in British politics about Europe for so long... I do believe the Prime Minister will win this referendum. There will be significant things that can be renegotiated.”

But he said the solution was not to leave the EU, which would mean losing free access to the single market.

He added: “We can’t just walk out of Europe, we have inherited liabilities, we would have to negotiate our way out. It would cost billions.

“We would find ourselves very isolated and in a very difficult position without Europe. I know that is uncomfortable for people who are frustrated but the Government and the country has to realise in a cold, clear-eyed way what is in its own economic self-interest and what is in the self-interest of the future of the UK and our well-being in the future.”

He dismissed Ukip as a contender long-term, saying its appeal is not one that is “instinctively likely to continue” for very long.

“They are there and of course they are an impediment for the moment. But what we are looking at is not a party political problem but the future of the UK and the well-being of this generation and the next,” he added.

“At the moment David Cameron is the only party leader with any chance whatsoever of firstly delivering a referendum... and secondly delivering the changes in Europe that I believe are necessary and which I believe can be negotiated.”